פירוש על ברכות 66:18

Promotes jealousy... by saying that God is concerned for these [birds] but not for his other creations.

His characteristics... His Mitzvoth. He created his Mitzvoth not out of mercy but to place upon Israel the laws of his ordinances to make known that they are his servants and the keepers of his Mitzvoth and ordinances even in matters that give cause for Satan and idolators to reply to them saying, what need do you have for this Mitzvah.

I.e. Palestine.

By mentioning birds only.

Which mnst be obeyed withont speculating about their motive. J. Lehmann in R.E.J. xxx. pp. 187 ff. suggests that the prayer was originally condemned by the Rabbis because it was Essenic in character. Graetz considers the teaching to be directed against the Gnostics; see his Gnotticitmus und Judentum, pp. 48 f.